SARAWAK’s beleaguered hotel owners will receive some relief from the state government in the form of  a waiver on their business licence fees.

The Covid-19 relief measure announced today by Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg will benefit more than 340 hotels and inns with a combined total of 17,300 rooms.

The waiver is part of the state’s fifth economic package worth RM405 million to aid its people and industries battered by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abang Johari said the waiver will cost the Sarawak government RM400,000.

The package, called Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS5.0), provides a raft of other waivers and discounts on utilities and rent for the state’s petty traders and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The aid is an extension of the discounts and waivers dispensed under BKSS4.0.

By then, it is hoped that Covid-19 vaccines will have ended the pandemic, the chief minister added.

The state’s latest economic package also has good news for property owners of properties with an assessment of more than RM400, as they will get a 25% discount.

More than 185,000 owners of residential, commercial, industrial properties will benefit from this.

Abang Johari said that will cost the government RM74.6 million.

More than 52,000 land owners, including owners of large plantations, will get a 30% discount on this year’s quit rent at the cost of RM11.8 million in projected collection.

The state’s 642,000 consumers, meanwhile, will receive an additional 5-25% discount on electricity.

The extended discount would cost the state RM166.2 million, the chief minister said.

He said discounts for water, at rates from 15-25%, will cost the state government RM31.5 million.

More than 568,000 accounts will benefit from the discount, he added.

Rent is halved for more than 10,000 traders renting markets and stalls under the purview of the local councils, at the cost of RM1.6 million to the Sarawak government. Business permit and licence fee waivers will cost the state RM8.3 million.

Abang Johari said there will also be a moratorium of another six months on repayment for the 174 borrowers on the small and medium industrial loan scheme

He said due to the uncertain business conditions faced by the SMEs, the state government has also decided to offer this group financial aid and loans that “we hope will allow them to continue their business”.

The means and methods of the financial assistance are yet to be worked out, he said.

The Sarawak International Trade and Industry Ministry under Deputy Chief Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hassan will issue more information soon, he said. – January 21, 2021.